Ephesians 4:15-16
15 Rather, speaking the truth in love, we are to grow up in every way into him who is the head, into Christ, 16 from whom the whole body, joined and held together by every joint with which it is equipped, when each part is working properly, makes the body grow so that it builds itself up in love.
There is much interest in knowing the truth. Our present age is no exception. Claiming to know “the truth” about this or that is a great way to get attention.
The trouble is, in our sinful world, the truth is often only presented in the form of a half truth. It is then used as a weapon to destroy others. Love is absent and is made worse by a denial of accountability to God on the day of judgement. What shall we do?
When it comes to the truth, we need to remember Jesus. He spoke the truth, and often it was a very hard to truth to hear. Jesus talked about sin against God and man, and called people to repent before it was too late. What makes Jesus preaching different than what we hear in our culture today?
Jesus spoke the truth in love. His goal in speaking the truth was not to harm but to help, not to destroy but to heal, not to kill, but to bring to life. Jesus spoke the truth, even to the point of the cross where He offered His life for ours and gained eternal life for all who trust in Him. Through faith in Jesus, sinners can be forgiven and have the gift of eternal life.
We sinners cannot hope to be perfect in our speaking to one another. But, God is gracious and will guide us in our care for one another. Therefore we pray for God’s guidance and in all things trust in Him to direct us.
What might this look like? When we talk to one another, we shall remember how Jesus has loved us. We shall speak in love by pointing to Jesus and His saving call to repentance. We shall speak in love, and when confession or apology is offered, forgive one another from the heart as God in Christ has forgiven us. We shall speak in love by not simply excusing sins, but removing them by the power of the Gospel. In this way we grow up in the faith, as each part of the body of Christ does its work.
Let us pray
I thank you Lord for bringing me back to life through faith through the Gospel and enabling me to speak the truth in love. Grant me courage to care for those in my family and congregation so that relationships can be restored and strengthened. I ask this in your name, AMEN
The Lord’s Prayer
Our Father who art in heaven, hallowed be Thy name, Thy kingdom come,Thy will be done on earth as it is in heaven; give us this day our daily bread; and forgive us our trespasses as we forgive those who trespass against us; and lead us not into temptation, but deliver us from evil. For Thine is the kingdom and the power and the glory forever and ever. Amen.